S21.23 — Puncture wound without foreign body of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity
Is S21.23 billable?
No — S21.23 is a non-billable header code. S21.23 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 9 billable codes beneath S21.23.
Billable codes under this header
- S21.231APuncture wound without foreign body of right back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter
- S21.231DPuncture wound without foreign body of right back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter
- S21.231SPuncture wound without foreign body of right back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela
- S21.232APuncture wound without foreign body of left back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter
- S21.232DPuncture wound without foreign body of left back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter
- S21.232SPuncture wound without foreign body of left back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela
- S21.239APuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter
- S21.239DPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter
- S21.239SPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela
S21.23 at a glance
| Code | S21.23 |
|---|---|
| Description | Puncture wound without foreign body of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S21.23 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to S21.23. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Puncture › thorax, thoracic › back
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S21
The conditions below can never be reported together with S21.23 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- traumatic amputation (partial) of thorax (S28.1)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S21.23 to fully describe the condition. S21.23 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of S21.23, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S21.23 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S21.23, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S21.23 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Code also — inherited from S21
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S21.23 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
What codes fall under S21.23? (3)
- S21.231Puncture wound without foreign body of right back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.232Puncture wound without foreign body of left back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.239Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
How long has S21.23 existed?
S21.23 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
What other codes are in the S21.2 family? (5)
- S21.20Unspecified open wound of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.21Laceration without foreign body of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.22Laceration with foreign body of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.24Puncture wound with foreign body of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable
- S21.25Open bite of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavitynot billable